1. inoculate 10 ml into each of aerobic and anaerobic blood culture bottles at the patient's bedside for optimal growth and recovery of organisms. Divide the fluid equally among the bottles if < 20 mL is obtained.

2. Submit additional fluid in a sterile tube, which allows for gram stain to be performed and faster identification of bacteria present at high concentrations.

Submitting tissue
For tissues not collected in the OR, obtain anaerobic transport medium from Microbiology L553 or from the Mount Zion OR

Submitting bone marrow aspirate
Schedule in advance at the time the bone marrow is requested.

If bacteria are detected that are not normal mixed flora they are automatically identified and susceptibility testing is performed. Full ID and/or susceptibility testing may be omitted upon request when sample is submitted for testing.